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sometime in the future, you found out that the God you believed in did not, and never did, exist -- would you change how you live your life?
If so, how?
If not, why not?
I keep thinking about trying to answer your question, Trout, but every time I do, I start by wondering what kind of evidence you can think of that would prove that the God I believe in doesn't exist. Do you have an ideas of what could possibly happy to convince me of this? I mean, I already have faith that an entity exists that I have no concrete evidence for. How could this change to evidence against His existence?
I keep thinking about trying to answer your question, Trout, but every time I do, I start by wondering what kind of evidence you can think of that would prove that the God I believe in doesn't exist. Do you have an ideas of what could possibly happy to convince me of this? I mean, I already have faith that an entity exists that I have no concrete evidence for. How could this change to evidence against His existence?
And, here's the thing, Baptist Fundie. If others who do not believe as you do have the same level of desire to do "good" and not do "evil" as you do, and you have NO more ability/power as a Christian to do/not do those things than others do, then what exactly do you think the draw to Christianity would be for others? It seems you realize there would be no draw, and that is why you use the threat of hell/eternal punishment for not embracing your beliefs.
Salvation of one's soul is a big draw, isn't it? I mean...it's what God said. God never said to do good for the sake of doing good. That is not good news. No one wants to be told that they are simply to try harder in order to please God. The good news of the Gospel is that God saves us regardless.
But yes--we are commanded to do good works, and God expects it of us.
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No, I do not suggest anyone "ought" to look to the bible. I was a Christian from my earliest recollection, and until about the last 10 years, the bible was very much the foundation of my life. Just because I'm no longer a Christian that does not mean the influence of those first 40 years of my life evaporated. Some of that influence was positive, some not. A lot of the negative influence has been healed, but the positive still remains as a part of who I am, and I'm grateful for it.
You see to be referencing Christian concepts. You talk about Jesus. If not for the Bible, you would have no information on him.
I keep thinking about trying to answer your question, Trout, but every time I do, I start by wondering what kind of evidence you can think of that would prove that the God I believe in doesn't exist. Do you have an ideas of what could possibly happy to convince me of this? I mean, I already have faith that an entity exists that I have no concrete evidence for. How could this change to evidence against His existence?
If I may...
Your question brings two things to mind that have come to my mind very often over the course of my adult life, maybe even during some of my childhood.
First, I am reluctant to shake anyone's faith, because I don't know of much good that can come from taking someone's comfort away, no matter how irrational that source of comfort may be. Fortunately, I know enough from experience that this kind of exchange doesn't change anyone's faith anyway, so onto the second thought that comes to mind as a result of your question.
Second, I struggle most believing in the God you believe in, because there are so many people who believe differently, and when I consider how all these people with very strong beliefs believe so differently, I ask how those differences can be reconciled. How can you believe so strongly in your God, for example, and a Buddhist believe so differently? By what criteria do we judge which belief is correct, our universal truth, versus which are not correct, fiction? Study that criteria, and use that "imagination" also suggested, and you get closer to the truth that we all share in common.
I keep thinking about trying to answer your question, Trout, but every time I do, I start by wondering what kind of evidence you can think of that would prove that the God I believe in doesn't exist. Do you have an ideas of what could possibly happy to convince me of this? I mean, I already have faith that an entity exists that I have no concrete evidence for. How could this change to evidence against His existence?
I suppose what comes to my mind is how you have concluded that faith is a reliable means to determine what is truth, assuming you have a desire to know what is true. Do you believe its possible that the 9/11 hijackers used faith to determine that their God wanted them to fly those planes into those buildings?
Salvation of one's soul is a big draw, isn't it? I mean...it's what God said. God never said to do good for the sake of doing good. That is not good news. No one wants to be told that they are simply to try harder in order to please God. The good news of the Gospel is that God saves us regardless.
But yes--we are commanded to do good works, and God expects it of us.
"Salvation" from a fate (eternal torment) that was made up from the imagination of people who thought God's justice equaled revenge. So, no, it's an impotent threat, not a draw.
Beyond that threat, then, in your belief, there is zero draw to being a Christian, since being a Christian has no benefit other than salvation from a non-existent threat. Being a Christian does not impart any more of a desire to do good, or any more of an ability to do so than the general non-Christian population already has. Christianity is purely about avoiding punishment.
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You see to be referencing Christian concepts. You talk about Jesus. If not for the Bible, you would have no information on him.
Of course, this isn't true, since there are other non-biblical books that speak of Jesus. But, even if it were true, what is your point, exactly?
"Salvation" from a fate (eternal torment) that was made up from the imagination of people who thought God's justice equaled revenge. So, no, it's an impotent threat, not a draw.
No. Salvation from the wrath of God. I'd suggest you read Romans some time. God DOES hate sinners, and he will punish them. The good news is those that trust in Jesus don't face that.
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Beyond that threat, then, in your belief, there is zero draw to being a Christian, since being a Christian has no benefit other than salvation from a non-existent threat. Being a Christian does not impart any more of a desire to do good, or any more of an ability to do so than the general non-Christian population already has. Christianity is purely about avoiding punishment.
Again.....saddling people with the burden of having to work to prove themselves is a "draw"? Really? Go ahead and knock yourself out on that. I'd rather just trust in Jesus, my loving savior.
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Of course, this isn't true, since there are other non-biblical books that speak of Jesus. But, even if it were true, what is your point, exactly?
My point is that without the Bible, which is God's word, you'd know very little of God.
No. Salvation from the wrath of God. I'd suggest you read Romans some time. God DOES hate sinners, and he will punish them. The good news is those that trust in Jesus don't face that.
Drivel.
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Again.....saddling people with the burden of having to work to prove themselves is a "draw"? Really? Go ahead and knock yourself out on that. I'd rather just trust in Jesus, my loving savior.
You're so fixated on the idea of avoiding punishment, that you don't understand that living a life in harmony with love is a reward, in and of itself, NOT a burden.
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My point is that without the Bible, which is God's word, you'd know very little of God.
You're so fixated on the idea of avoiding punishment, that you don't understand that living a life in harmony with love is a reward, in and of itself, NOT a burden.
Drivel.
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